Term: catalytic cycle
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08153

Definition:
Sequence of reaction steps in the form of a loop. One step is binding of a reactant to the active catalyst (sometimes formed from a precatalyst), and another step is the release of product and regeneration of the catalyst.

Example: <span title="reaction">\(\ce{A + B -> C}\)</span>, catalyzed by <span title="substance">\(\ce{X}\)</span> formed from precatalyst <span title="substance">\(\ce{X'}\)</span>. [image]

Example: Array

Image: catalytic cycle (https://goldbook.iupac.org/img/inline/08153.jpg) 

Source: PAC, 2022, 94, 353. 'Glossary of terms used in physical organic chemistry (IUPAC Recommendations 2021)' on page 380 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2018-1010)

Citation: 'catalytic cycle' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.08153

License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms.

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